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First Draft

from Telegrams by Tariq

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about

Inspired by a short story by American fiction writer Lorrie Moore about a struggling New York city playwright who refuses to move out of his apartment despite its decaying state. When his girlfriend suggests they move to the Upper West Side, still he refuses to take action. When she packs her things and moves out, he watches her go and stays put. Even the prostitutes working right outside his building don’t seem to move him to take action—this is his writing sanctuary, and he’s staying put. Or perhaps he’s too lazy to move, or simply set in his ways. And it’s not like he isn’t tormented daily. He regularly calls the landlord to complain about the clogged pipes and drains and especially about the truckers who come to rendezvous with the hookers and then keep their diesel engines running right outside his windows, filling the apartment with toxic fumes. Later in the story he meets with an industry expert about his play, and the feedback he receives is not good. But once again, he digs in his heels, believes that the world owes him his name in lights and that someday it will deliver, as long as he perseveres. A song about both the resilience and folly of the artist.

lyrics

So many scenes to write, this coffee stained paper curls. We won’t be this poor for long. I’m tired of being last, lagging like a desperate dog under the shaky moon howling tunes. The water keeps backing up, up through the sink and the tub, so I’ll call the landlord soon and if he don’t come, well, then I’ll call the plumber. The worse thing is the bed at night, it’s like sleeping in a block of ice.

Cuz everything was easier with you here, that’s when the days don’t falter and they don’t stutter. Sometimes it’s hard to breathe, damn these trucks and their diesel engines. And I’m still trying to write my play, once I get the first draft done, I’ll be working on a second one.

You can’t make the plot turn back or the third act just won’t seem real. How’s life on the Upper West Side? Someday I’ll move there with you, yeah, someday I promise. By then I’ll have my own marquee and golden lights will blink at me.

Cuz everything was easier with you here, that’s when the days don’t falter and they don’t stutter. Sometimes it’s hard to breathe, damn these trucks and their diesel engines. And I’m still trying to write my play, once I get the first draft done, I’ll be working on a second one.

credits

from Telegrams, track released March 29, 2019
Composers: Tariq Hussain

Performers: 
Tariq--vocals, guitar
Sam Davidson--keys/synths, woodwinds
Skye Brooks--drums
John Walsh—bass
Micajah Sturgess—french horn
JP Carter—trumpets

Studio--Afterlife (Vancouver, BC)

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about

Tariq Vancouver, British Columbia

Tariq is a Juno nominated singer/songwriter & recording artist. He releases music as himself and w/ the critically acclaimed band, Brasstronaut.

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